Chapter 67 Unqualified to Discuss with Cheng Shi

Cheng Shi finished tuning the new machine tool and let Cheng Yongjin try it out.

Cheng Yongjin exclaimed repeatedly, "This machine tool is truly a pleasure to use, so much better than the previous one. I feel like the technical requirements for the operator aren't nearly as high, and efficiency can be vastly improved."

Cheng Shi replied, "That's mainly because you're already a skilled hand. A newcomer wouldn't manage it so well."

In reality, the more advanced the technology of a machine, the lower the demands it places on the worker. In the future, fully automated mechanized production lines would require workers to do nothing more than press a button.

Happily, Cheng Yongjin went back to work on the new machine tool.

Meanwhile, Cheng Shi began to adjust the precision of the old machine tool.

The precision of a CNC machine tool is primarily determined by its own structure, control system, servo system, tool quality, various stresses borne, external temperature, humidity, electromagnetic interference, as well as the level of installation, commissioning, and maintenance.

Right now, all Cheng Shi could do was replace some of the aged parts with inadequate precision to reduce errors. He reinstalled and tuned the electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems to minimize errors in leveling, perpendicularity, parallelism, and coaxiality.

Parts that needed to be manufactured and replaced first had to be measured, then drawn into blueprints, and repeatedly calibrated and confirmed before machining could take place.

In the future, this work could be completed directly using 3D scanning, surveying instruments, and plotters.

At present, however, everything had to rely entirely on manual labor. Therefore, it was extremely draining, time-consuming, and required a great deal of patience.

The entire morning slipped away unconsciously.

Zhang Ziqiang had spent the whole morning busy making phone calls to potential clients.

Hearing Zhang Ziqiang call out, "Brother, when did you get back?"

Cheng Shi subconsciously looked up.

A young man was standing at the entrance.

He had a regular face, large ears, a high nose, and thick eyebrows with big eyes, giving him a very official-looking appearance.

With a hint of arrogance, the man gave a slight nod and said, "I've finished my graduation procedures and returned to work at the automobile factory."

Only then did Cheng Shi realize that this was the perfect son in Zhang Guohua's heart—Zhang Ziqiang's older brother.

At this moment, facing his brother, Zhang Ziqiang appeared even more nervous and uneasy than he had when facing Zhang Guohua.

Cheng Shi put down what he was holding in his hands, stood up, and walked over. "Hello, is there something you need?"

The man stepped forward with a smile and extended his hand to Cheng Shi. "Comrade Cheng Shi, hello. I am Zhang Zisheng."

He was warm and polite, like a completely different person compared to how he had just looked at Zhang Ziqiang.

Cheng Shi raised his hands, which were stained with grease, and said, "I'm sorry."

Zhang Zisheng said, "I'm here to discuss the parts procurement contract with Comrade Cheng Shi."

Could it be that Zhang Guohua's old face finally couldn't take it anymore, and he was too embarrassed to come and see them himself?

Cheng Shi gave a slight nod. "Oh. I'm busy right now. Why don't you talk to my sales manager, Comrade Zhang Ziqiang, first?"

Zhang Zisheng's brow furrowed in a way that was almost imperceptible.

Yet, seeing through what was in his mind, Cheng Shi stated, "When it comes to sales, he can represent me."

Even if he couldn't before, he had to be able to now.

He was going to stand up for his buddy.

Zhang Ziqiang's face scrunched up into a ball, and he whispered to Cheng Shi, "Are you really going to make me talk to him alone?"

Cheng Shi gave him a sidelong glance. "Straighten your back. The time has come to test you. Will you hide every time various relatives and friends show up to talk business in the future? I trust you; can't you even trust yourself? Besides, I've already quoted prices according to their precision requirements, and I've given you the contract template. You also know our shipping capacity. As long as you hold firm on these three points, nothing major will go wrong."

Hearing this, Zhang Ziqiang said, "That's true."

He turned to Zhang Zisheng and said, "Let's go inside the office and sit down to talk."

Zhang Zisheng replied, "It would be best if Comrade Cheng Shi participated as well, because in addition to the previous parts, our factory also wants to order more parts from Comrade Cheng Shi."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ziqiang lost his footing mentally once again and turned to look at Cheng Shi.

When it came to quoting prices for new parts, he truly felt uncertain.

Cheng Shi said, "Very well. I'll sit in and listen."

He went inside, sat behind the desk, and lowered his eyes to wipe the grease off his fingers in an unhurried manner.

Inwardly, Zhang Zisheng was astonished: How could Cheng Shi, looking so young, possess such a distinct aura of presence and composure simply by sitting down like that?

Giving a dry cough, Zhang Ziqiang asked, "What parts does your esteemed factory need?"

In truth, Zhang Zisheng felt that Zhang Ziqiang was not qualified to negotiate with him, but since Cheng Shi had made it clear he was unwilling to talk directly, and he himself was currently representing the automobile factory to beg Cheng Shi, he had no choice but to lower his pride and swallow his grievances.

Taking out a piece of paper, he said, "The list is right here."

Upon looking at it, Zhang Ziqiang saw it contained all the accessories for an automobile crankshaft.

This included the connecting rod journals and crankshaft bearings, which were the most complex parts of the crankshaft that had previously been ordered from Cheng Shi.

Feeling somewhat puzzled, he asked, "Can't the automobile factory make parts like the crankshaft arms, counterweights, and crankshaft pivots yourselves?"

Zhang Zisheng answered, "Right now, we simply want to package the entire crankshaft production over to Comrade Cheng Shi. After all, it's a single integrated unit, and the components need to work together in coordination to ensure the normal operation of the engine and power transmission."

He refused to admit that the parts made by the automobile factory itself had much lower precision than those made by Cheng Shi and were holding them back.

Zhang Ziqiang remarked, "It might not be cost-effective for your esteemed factory to use our parts for everything."

What the hell, have you forgotten who you are? Why have you completely placed yourself in opposition to the automobile factory?

A trace of irritation flickered across Zhang Zisheng's face, though he kept it completely hidden in front of Cheng Shi. "Therefore, I would like to discuss with your company whether we can lower the price."

Zhang Ziqiang stated, "Impossible. Raw materials, machine depreciation, and labor costs are all right here. We are a private enterprise and must be responsible for our own profits and losses."

It was meant to be a statement of factual truth.

Yet, to Zhang Zisheng's ears, it sounded like a mockery—as if implying that because the automobile factory's losses were backed by the state, they had dragged such an important matter out until now to resolve, forcing themselves to buy expensive parts from outsiders.

Without even looking at Zhang Ziqiang, Zhang Zisheng said, "I am asking Mr. Cheng, not you."

Indifferently, Cheng Shi replied, "Zhang Ziqiang's opinion is my opinion."

This was a blatant slap to Zhang Zisheng's face.

Clenching his fists tightly, Zhang Zisheng asked, "Then how much are you pricing the full set of crankshaft machining at?"

In a detached tone, Cheng Shi said, "Four thousand five hundred yuan per set."

Zhang Zisheng said, "Can you drop it to two thousand? The volume we need is relatively large."

Cheng Shi remained silent.

He wanted to see Zhang Ziqiang's attitude.

Drawing a clear line between personal and professional matters was also something Zhang Ziqiang had to learn.

Without hesitation, Zhang Ziqiang shook his head. "Impossible."

Actually, Cheng Shi had already offered a substantial discount.

A single crankshaft had four connecting rod journals alone. Calculated at eight hundred each, plus the bearings, the total price alone would exceed four thousand. Not to mention there were several other types of parts included.

Zhang Ziqiang had previously worked in supply and sales for the automobile factory himself, and he knew all too well the condescending attitudes of those big shots.

They completely disregarded everyone else's survival as long as they could fulfill their own assignments in the end.

Still ignoring him, Zhang Zisheng kept his eyes fixed entirely on Cheng Shi.

Zhang Ziqiang pressed his lips together.

Paying no attention to him, Cheng Shi made it clear he was forcing Zhang Zisheng to negotiate directly with Zhang Ziqiang.